Fire-escape



P. M. BENDER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERICK M. B ENDER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

Fl RE- ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,659, dated April 24, 1894. Application filed December 18, 1893. Serial No. 493.914. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. BENDER, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire -Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in fire escapes,the object being to provide a light and substantial structure for the safe conveyance of the inmates of burning buildings and parcelsbundles-or any other articles, from the building to a place of safety, and it consists in a hollow tower havinga centrally located support or stand-pipe, in combination with open sleeves or thimbles clamped around the support or stand pipe, and a chute or slide made in sections secured to the centrally located sleeves or thimbles whereby a simple and continuous chute or slide is formed for the safe descent to a point of exit, of all who enter the tower.

It further consists in a hollow tower having with open sleeves or thimbles clamped upon the stand-pipe, and a spiral chute or slide formed in sections, each section of which is secured at the inner edge to the sleeves or thimbles and at their outer edges to the inner wall of the tower and cross seams or laps of spiral chute fastened by rivets or any other convenient fastenings whereby the sections form a continuous spiral chute and also a brace for the tower to make the latter perfectly rigid.

The invention still further consists in certain other features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation, a portion of the tower be ing removed or broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a view showing a portion of the central stand pipe with two of the sleeves or thimbles thereon. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the central stand pipe, a sleeve or ferrule and a portion of one of the leaves or sections 0; and Fig. 4. is a detached view in perspective showing one leaf 0 anda portion of another secured thereto.

A represents the tower made of any diameter desired, it being located alongside or inside of the building in connection with which it is used and constructed in the usual manner of comparatively thin sheet metal which for the purpose of lightness and economy may be thinner as the tower is built higher. A stand-pipe 1 extends upward centrally in the tower forminga continuation of the main 2 or other water supply. These pipes may be provided with valves 3, 3, for controlling the discharge of water and also at convenient places, at various elevations, preferably opposite each fioor branch pipes 4., 4, lead outward from the stand pipe for the attachment of hose or simply for the supply of water at that point, cocks 5, 5, being shown for turning on or shutting off water in these branch pipes. A pipe 6 at the lower end is also shown leading into the stand-pipe in case it is necessary to pump water in from the fire engines to supply the stand pipe as is of course necessary in some systems of water works. These details may obviously be varied as circumstances may require. In addition to the pipes referred to the stand-pipe is furnished at intervals with fusible plugs 7, 7, adapted to be opened by the heat should it become very intense inside of the tower so as to dischargea spray of water to cool the air and the metal forming the fire escape.

B, B, indicate a series of open sleeves or thimbles placed one above another around the stand pipe, the lower end of each one overlapping the upper end of the next lower one and so on from top to bottom. These thimbles or sleeves are open on one side and provided with outwardly projecting flanges 8, 8, extending spirally from end to end of the thimble or sleeve.

I C, O, are the leaves or sections of the chute, they being made substantially as shown in Fig. 3. The inner ends or edges 9, 9, of these leaves or sections are placed between the flanges 8, 8, of the sleeves or thimbles B, where they are securely riveted and the outer edges are bent downward in the form of a flange 10 and this flange is securely riveted to the inner wall of the tower. The lower edge of each leaf, or section 0 overlaps the next one below and so on from the upper to the lower end of the tower and these lapping edges are riveted or otherwise secured together so that a continuous spiral chute of concave shape is formed around the central stand pipe from one end to the other.

Of course the leaves or sections C, C, may be otherwise secured to the thimbles or sleeves and the wall of the tower, than by means of rivets, but rivets were mentioned as themost expedient means. The thimbles or sleeves when their edges or flanges 8, 8, are secured together upon the inner edges of the leaves or sections G, O, clamp. tightly around the stand pipe and in this way are held in place. In putting the parts together, the upper sections are always made to overlap the lower ones so that no rough edges are exposed to strike or injure a person sliding down the chute, also the corners are rounded and every other precaution of this nature is taken to add as far as possible to the comfort of the escaping occupant. Not only do the thimbles clamp tightly around the stand pipe and thus cause them to retain their places, but also the flanges of each thimble rest upon the upper ends of the ones next beneath so that the flanges 8, 8, always formacontinuous and unbroken spiral. It may be mentioned in this connection that as the leaves or sections 0, O, are secured to the stand pipe and also to the inner wall of the tower, and their edges together, a very solid and rigid structure is formed so that very thin metal may be employed without weakening the fire escape overmuch.

Outside of the tower at firem'ans ladder D is held on suitable brackets 11, 11 and on top of the tower a railing 12 is placed. Door-s13, 13 from each floor open into the tower and an exit is provided at the bottom or lower.

end.

An endless chain, rope or any other article E is carried over a pulley 14 at the upper end of the tower and this chain is provided with hook or hooks 15 adapted to receive an end of the hose whereby the latter may be carried I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fire escape, the combination with a hollow tower, of a series of open thimbles or sleeves, one located upon the next below, and a spiral chute made in leaves or sections the inner edges of which are secured to the thimbles or sleeves, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire escape, the combination with a hollow tower, of a series of thimbles or sleeves open on one side and a spiral chute composed of leaves or sections secured together and secured to the thimbles or sleeves at their inner edges and to the wall of the tower at their outer edges, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fire-escape, the combination with a hollow tower, and a support or stand-pipe therein, of a series of thimbles or sleeves strung on the stand pipe, the thimbles or sleeves having a spiral opening, and a spiral chute composed of leaves or sections the inner edges of which are inserted and secured between the edges of the thimble or sleeve and to the outer edges of the wall of the tower, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fire escape, the combination with a hollow tower, and a stand-pipe therein, of a series of thimbles or sleeves having a spiral opening in the side and flanges at the edges of'this opening, one thimble or sleeve adapted to rest above another and the lower end of each surrounding or overlapping the upper end of the next one beneath, and a spiral chute composed of sections secured together,

the inner edges located and secured between the flanges of the thimbles and sleeves, and the outer edges provided with flanges secured to the wall of the tower, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fire-escape, the combination with a hollow tower, of aseries of thimbles or sleeves havinga spiral opening in the side and flanges projecting outwardly from the edges of the opening the upper ends of the flanges terminating below the upper end of the thimble or,

sleeve to form a seat for the lower ends of the flanges of the thimble or sleeve next above and a spiral chute composed of leaves or sections the inner edges of which are secured between the flanges of the thimbles or sleeves, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK M. BENDER.

Witnesses: SAML. H. GARVIN,

' O. A.Ross. 

